Predetermining counter



Dec. 21, 1965 v. J. LEONARD 3,224,673

PREDETERMINING COUNTER Filed Oct. 50, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 COUNTERDIFFERENTIAL 1955 v. J. LEONARD PREDETERMINING COUNTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Oct. 50, 1963 Dec. 21, 1965 v. J. LEONARD 3,224,573

PREDETERMINING COUNTER Filed Oct. 50, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIE 5a F I IH I 5 373 l l 376 l United States Patent 3,224,673 PREDETERMININGCOUNTER Vurnen J. Leonard, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to HoneywellInc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 320,133Claims. (Cl. 235-132 This invention relates generally to an improvedoutput device for a predeterminin-g counter and more specificallyconcerns the design of an automatically reset-table mechanical outputshaft which will provide a rotational output at the end of apredetermined count, the prior structure of which is described inco-pendi-ng application Serial No. 302,310, filed August 15, 1963, alsoassigned to the applicants assignee.

The predetermining counter which was described in the co-pendingapplication provided a rotary output from a mechanical output shaft atthe end of a predetermined count. Since the counter was used in a timingdevice for a mechanical munition fuze, the output was utilized forarming the fuze at the end of a preset time period. This particulartiming device including a predetermining counter having a rotary outputshaft is particularly well adapted for use in a munition fuze. First ofall, the counter is easily set to the desired time even by the mostinexperienced operator. The counter mechanism is simply rotated untilthe correct time appears on the dials. The counter is also inherentlyvery accurate since the final output is taken directly from the lowestorder counter wheel, each revolution of which represents a relativelyshort time period. In this particular application, one revolution of thelowest order wheel represents ten seconds of time. If accuracy to onesecond is desired, thirtysix degrees of rotation is available fortransfer to the output shaft.

The fact that the output shaft is geared to the counter wheels at alltimes during the countdown is also highly desirable in that the outputshaft is not affected by vibration or inertial forces. A spring loadeddevice, for example, might be influenced by such vibration to give anerroneous output.

The prior structure as disclosed in the co-pending application had adrawback in that the output shaft would not automatically reset with thecounter. If, for example, an operator set in the wrong time on thecounter thus requiring a subsequent change in setting, the output shaftin some circumstances had to be removed from engagement with the counterwheels until the counter was reset. The prior device would reset in acountdown direction without separately changing the position of theoutput shaft, but any changes in setting in a forward directioninvolving motion of the output shaft required that the output shaft bedisengaged. Separate resetting of the shaft was also required if thecounter were reset through the zero position in either direction.

As can readily be seen, it is highly desirable that the output shaftfollow the movement of the counter Wheels at all times. If the outputshaft is engaged at all times and will follow the movement of thecounter wheels, the operator need only adjust the position of thecounter wheels and need not be concerned with the setting of the outputshaft. This automatic resetting feature reduces the probability oferrors being introduced into the setting of the counter and also reducesthe time required to reset the counter. A remote setting system can alsobe utilized where the output shaft will follow the counter but cannot beconveniently utilized if the output shaft must be separately rest eachtime the counter is reset.

' In the prior structure, shaft rotating means comprising a plurality ofkicker teeth and blocking teeth were placed on the output shaft inposition to be engaged by corresponding driving means or cog members onthe 3,224,673 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 counter wheels as each counterwheel returned to the zero position for the last time. That is, as thehighest order wheel returned to zero, a cog member on the wheelcOntacted a kicker tooth on the output shaft to partially rotate theoutput shaft. This partial rotation placed a second kicker tooth inposition to be contacted by a cog member on the next lower wheel as itreturned to the zero position. This sequence of events continued until afinal kicker tooth was placed in position adjacent the lowest orderwheel to be contacted by a cog member when the lowest order wheelreached the zero position for the last time. The final partial outputwhich occurred when the lowest order wheel reached the zero position forthe 'last time was utilized to arm the fuze. Again it should be notedthat the prior structure was not reversible. It was not possible todrive the wheels in a forward direction to reset the output shaft unlessthe output shaft were disengaged and manually reset.

The present invention utilizes similar theory to accomplish the rotationof the output shaft in a countdown direction but also provides means toautomatically reset the output shaft when the counter is reset. In theimproved device, additional kicker teeth, blocking teeth cog members andnotches for the blocking teeth are added wherever necessary to insurethat a kicker tooth is in position to be engaged by an associated cogmember regardless of the position of the counter wheels and regardlessof the direction in which the wheels are turned.

The theory of operation in the particular case of a three wheel countercan be explained as follows. A standard counter mechanism is constructedsuch that it will rotate in either direction from the zero position tothe maximum number position having three digits. The total range of thecounter thus includes the zero position and all numbers through themaximum number having three digits. The total range can be divided intothree sub-ranges, the lower limit of each being defined by the counterposition as each wheel returns to the zero position for the last time ina countdown direction and the high limit being defined by the counterpositions at which each counter wheel transfers movement to the nexthigher counter wheel for the first time in a forward direction. In athree-wheel counter capable of counting from 000 to 999, for example,the low range has a low limit of 000 and a high limit of 009; the middlerange has a low limit of 010 and a high limit of 099; and the high rangehas a low limit of and a high limit of 999. During the time that thecounter is in the high range, a kicker tooth on the output shaft isplaced in position to be contacted by a cog member on the highest orderwheel should the counter pass through either the high or low limit ofthe high range. The kicker teeth corresponding to the two lower orderwheels or two lower ranges must of course be mounted on the output shaftso as to be out of line with the two lower order wheels during thisperiod since each of the lower order wheels will make severalrevolutions during this period. If the counter leaves the third range ina countdown direction, the kicker tooth will be engaged to rotate theoutput shaft a partial turn to place the next lower kicker tooth inposition to be contacted by the associated cog member should the countermove through the limits of the middle range. If the counter movesthrough the high limit of the high range, it will move into the lowrange and again the kicker tooth corresponding to the low range isplaced in position to be contacted by the associated cog member.

The counter will of course repeatedly count from 000 to 999 in a forwarddirection or repeatedly count from 999 to 000 in a countdown direction.In order that the several positions of the output shaft correspond tothe several positions of the counter, a full revolution of the outputshaft is made to represent the rotation of the counter through its fullrange. Because of this, the counter can be indiscriminately rotated inany direction for any length of time without losing the fixed relativerelationship existing between the positions of the output shaft and theranges of the counter wheels.

The basic thing to remember is that an output is desired at some pointduring the final rotation of the lowest order wheel. Since the lowestorder wheel is continuously rotating, it is impossible to place amechanical device in position to be contacted by the lowest order wheeluntil it reaches the final rotation. The movement of the higher orderwheels is thus utilized to predict the arrival of the lowest order wheelat the final rotation and to control the output means accordingly. Whenthe lowest order wheel completes its final rotation in either direction,the output is utilized to reset the output shaft to a previous positioncorresponding to the range into which the counter is moved.

The particular embodiment of the counter disclosed in this applicationprovides repeatable counting in either direction between 000 and 199.The theory of operation is the same as that discussed above, however,and will be discussed in detail in a later portion of the specification.

An unusual setting mechanism and driving mechanism has also beenincorporated into the timer. A mechanical differential having twoseparate inputs and a common output is utilized. The differential outputis geared to the lowest order wheel. A setting knob is connected to oneinput such that the lowest order wheel can be rotated in eitherdirection through the differential. A clock motor is connected to theother input whereby the lowest order wheel is driven at a predeterminedrate when the clock is operating. Since one input can be made withoutaffecting the position of the other input, no switch-over arrangement isrequired between the setting operation and theop'eration of the timeclock.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide anautomatically resettable output mechanism for a predetermining counter.

It is a further object to provide an output device which is geared tothe wheels of a multiple wheel counter such that an output will occurduring a selected single rotation of the lowest order wheel, the counterbeing resettable such that each time said counter returns to the outputposition an output occurs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary outputshaft for a mechanical counter which has mounted thereon a plurality ofsegmental gears which mesh with corresponding segmental gears on thecounter wheels such that the output shaft has a plurality of fixedpositions corresponding to a plurality of counter wheel positions.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an outputdevice for a predetermining counter which will assume a plurality ofpositions in response to the counter moving from a predetermined numbersetting to a reference setting and which will automatically reset uponsaid counter being returned to the original setting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a munition fuzetimer including a predetermining counter having an automaticallyresettable output mechanism and having a dual input including manualsetting means and timed driving means each being operable at all timeswithout disconnecting the other.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a timingdevice utilizing a predetermining counter having an intermittentlydriven output shaft which rotates at comparatively high speed duringmovement of the counter through relevant readings to permit a time pickoff as accurate as could be achieved by an output dial or shaft of thesize necessary to permit continuous rotation at the same speed over thesame period of time.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the predetermining counter with theoutput shaft in a position corresponding to the highest range ofpositions on the counter.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the subject munition fuze timer disclosingthe location of and the relationships between the driving means, thesetting means, the counter and the output shaft.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of the counter mechanism andoutput shaft showing the position of the output shaft at five differentstages of the counting cycle.

FIGURE 4a is a side view of the hundreds wheel; the side being that sideadjacent the tens wheel.

FIGURE 4b is a view of the hundreds wheel taken along line 4b4b ofFIGURE 4a.

FIGURE 5a is a side view of the tens wheel; the side being that sideadjacent the hundreds wheel.

FIGURE 5b is a side view of the tens wheel; the side being that sideadjacent the units wheel.

FIGURE 50 is a view of the tens wheel taken along lines 5c5c of FIGURE512.

FIGURE 6a is a side view of the units wheel; the side being that sideopposite the side adjacent the tens wheel.

FIGURE 6b is a view of the units wheel taken along lines 6b6b of FIGURE6a.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the output shaft disclosing the relativepositions of a number of the kicker teeth and blocking teeth attachedthereto.

FIGURE 8 is a side view of the kicker teeth and blocking teethassociated with the units wheel taken along line as of FIGURE 7. 1

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the kicker teeth and blocking teethassociated with the front of the tens wheel as taken along line 99 ofFIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is aside view of the kicker teeth and blocking teethassociated with the rear of the tens wheel as taken along line 10-10 ofFIGURE 7.

FIGURE 11 is a side View of the kicker teeth and blocking teethassociated with the hundreds wheel as taken along line 11-11 of FIGURE"7.

Refer now to the drawings for a more detailed description of thepredetermining counter and its operation. In FIGURE 2, the subjectmunition fuze timer is disclosed in block form. The timer assembly ismounted in a cylindrical frame '10 having end supports '11 and 12, and acentral support 13. -A multiple whee-l counter 14 is mounted on arotatable shaft 16 between supports 12 and 13. Counter 14 can be drivenin either direction by rotation of shaft 16. An output gear 17 of amechanical differential 18 is connected to a matching gear 19 attachedto shaft 16 to provide rotation of shaft 16. Two inputs to differential18 are provided including a shaft 21 and a shaft 22. A setting knob 23is connected to input shaft 21 to provide means for manually setting thecounter in either direction. A clock motor 24 is connected throughintermediate gears 26 and .27 to input shaft '22 to drive counter 14-during operation of the timer. The two inputs to the counter areindependent.

The rotation of setting knob 23 in either direction will cause gear 17to rotate, to in turn rotate counter shaft 16. During the manual settingoperation, input shaft 22 remains stationary. Likewise, during operationof clock motor 24, input shaft 21 remains stationary.

An output shaft 28 is mounted adjacent counter 14 for rotation insupport members 12 and 13. The individual output means or shaft rotatingmeans 29, 3-1, 32-, and 33 are disclosed in block form. Shaft rotatingmeans 29, '31, 32, and 33 are engaged with corresponding driving meanson counter 14 in a manner to be described later. \An end 34 of outputshaft 28 extends into a cham- 'ber 35 located between supports 11 and13. Although not disclose-d in this drawing, end 34 is connected to thefuze arming system so as to arm the fuze at the end of the predeterminedcount.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the predetermining counter including theoutput shaft is disclosed in detail in an isometric view. The counterwheels are again mounted between support members 12 and 13 on a commonshaft 16 (not shown). The counter wheels include a units wheel 36, atens wheel 37 and a hundreds wheel 38. Units wheel 36 is connected toshaft 16 whereby rotation of input gear 19 causes rotation of unitswheel 36. Each full rotation of units wheel 36 in either directioneffects a one-tenth rotation of tens wheel 37 through a standardtransfer mechanism '39 which is mounted on a shaft 41. Shaft rotatingmeans 29, 31, 32, and 33 are herein disclosed in more detail assegmental gears including narrow kicker teeth and wide blocking teethwhich engage corresponding segmental gears on the counter wheels.

Units wheel 36 consists of a number wheel 36a having the numbers -9evenly indexed on the periphery thereof, and a predetermining wheel 36bof smaller diameter concentrically attached thereto. Shaft rotatingmeans 29 adjacent units wheel 36 includes a plurality of wide blockingteeth such as 77 and a plurality of narrow kicker teeth such as 81.Blocking teeth such as 77 normally ride the periphery of predeterminingWheel 36b to prevent spurious rotation of output shaft 28. When outputshaft 28 is rotated, the blocking teeth mesh with a notch or recess inthe periphery of predetermining wheel 36b as indicated at 44. theperiphery of predetermining wheel 36b and are adapted to engage with asegmental gear on the predetermining wheel such as 45. The details ofunits wheel 36 are more fully disclosed in FIGURES 6a and 6b. In FIG-URE 6b it can be seen that the predetermining wheel 36b forms acylindrical surface adjacent number wheel 36a upon which the blockingteeth normally ride. Notch 44 is seen as extending the full width of theperiphery of predetermining wheel 36b to accommodate the blocking toothduring rotation of the output shaft. The gear segment 45 onpredetermining wheel 36b which engages with the kicker teeth on theoutput shaft is made up of a number of cog members which extendoutwardly from the side of the predetermining wheel parallel to thecentral axis of the wheels. A similar cylindrical surface 46 on theopposite side of units wheel 36 acts as a blocking surface for transfermechanism 39 and a pair of gear teeth 48 also co-act with the transfermechanism.

From FIGURE 1 it can be seen that shaft rotating means 31 and 32 eachmesh with driving means on tens wheel 37. In FIGURE a, the side of tenswheel 37 adjacent hundreds wheel 38 is disclosed as including a largediameter number wheel 37a having a smaller diameter predetermining wheel37b concentrically attached thereto. Once again, predetermining wheel37b forms a blocking surface upon which the blocking teeth in shaftrotating means 62 ride. A notch or recess 50 is again provided in thesurface of the predetermining Wheel to accommodate the blocking teethduring rotation of the output shaft. Mounted on predetermining wheel 37badjacent notch 50 are a pair of cog members 51 and 52 which extends outfrom the .side of the wheel in a direction parallel to the common axis.A different view of this structure is disclosed in FIGURE 50.

In FIGURE 5b, the side of tens wheel 37 adjacent units wheel 36 isdisclosed. A predetermining wheel 37c of smaller diameter is againconcentrically attached to number wheel 37a. As more clearly disclosedin FIG- URE 50, a pair of notches 53 and 54 are formed in the peripheryof predetermining wheel 37c to accommodate the associated blockingteeth. Four cog members 56, 5'7, 58, and :59 again extend from the sideof the predetermining wheel adjacent the recesses to engage the kickerteeth on associated shaft rotating means 31. Also formed in theperiphery of predetermining wheel 37c are a plurality of gear teeth suchas 61 which do not engage either the kicker teeth or the blocking teethon the output shaft.

Kicker teeth such as 81 lie outside Gear teeth 61 are adapted to engagewith transfer means 39 to provide a tens transfer between units wheel 36and tens wheel 37.

Operation Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is disclosed a schematicdiagram of the counter wheels with the output shaft shown in thedifferent positions assumed during a full range of rotation of thecounter wheels. Five distinct positions of the output shaft are shown inthe drawing with the top position and the bottom position being thesame. The output shaft rotates 72 between positions thus assuming all ofthe positions during a full rotation. It should first be noted that thisparticular counter has a range from 000 to 199. The units wheel isdriven by the output from the differential and its movement istransferred to the tens wheel through standard transfer mechanism 39.The movement of the hundreds wheel is not effected directly through astandard transfer mechanism but is provided through rotation of theoutput shaft. The hundreds wheel is thus driven by the output shaftwhile the units wheel and the tens wheel drive the output shaft. Thehundreds wheel merely acts as an indicator in this application and hasno other function. For purposes of illustration, the numbers on thewheels have been placed on the side of each wheel rather than on theperiphery. The circle which surrounds a number on each wheel is meant torepresent the readout position for the counter. The counter in FIGURE 3is thus set to 158. The readout position remains in the same positionduring rotation while the wheels rotate the other numbers through thatposition. As is well known in the counter art, the positioning of thenumerals on the wheels is a relative thing dependent upon the desiredreadout position.

Assume that the wheels have been set to 158 as shown on the drawing andthat the munition has been launched. The input device drives the unitswheel in a counterclockwise direction to begin the countdown. The unitswheel completes one revolution every ten seconds and the tens wheelmakes a complete revolution every one hundred seconds.- A partialrotation of the output shaft is desired when the counter reaches thezero position. Because of the fact that the units wheel is continuouslyrotating, shaft rotating means 29 cannot be placed in position to meshwith the corresponding segmental gear 45 until the final rotation of theunits wheel from 009 to 000.

The position of the output shaft marked A in FIG- URE 3 is that positioncorresponding to the high range of the counter from to 199.- Forpurposes of interpretation of the diagram, the wide teeth shown on thedrawing represent the blocking teeth which ride the periphery of thecorresponding predetermining wheel to prevent spurious rotation of theoutput shaft. The narrow teeth represent kicker teeth which lie in aplane parallel to the outer surface of the predetermining wheel in lrneto be contacted by the associated cog members extending outwardly fromthe side of the wheel. Shaft rotating means 32, for example, includes apair of wide blocking teeth and a single kicker tooth. In position A ofoutput shaft 28, the two blocking teeth 66 and 67 are in position toride the periphery of predetermining wheel 37b. Output shaft 28 cannotrotate in either direction since blocking teeth 66 and 67 cannot passthrough the surface of the predetermining wheel. Kicker tooth 6% liesadjacent the predetermining wheel 37b and extends below the peripherythereof. Upon rotation of tens wheel 37 to the proper position, eithercog member 51 or cog member 52 will mesh with kicker tooth 68 to effectrotation of output shaft 28.

Shaft rotating means 31 includes three blocking teeth 69, 7t), and 71,and single kicker tooth 72. In position A of output shaft 28, blockingteeth 70 and 71 prevent rotation of the output shaft but kicker tooth 72is out of position to be contacted by the associated cog members onpredetermining wheel 37c.

Shaft rotating means 29 includes four blocking teeth 75, 76, '77, ands3, and four kicker teeth s0, s1, s2, and 84. In position A of outputshaft 28, blocking teeth 76 and 77 ride the periphery of predeterminingwheel 36b to assist in preventing spurious rotation of output shaft 28.None of the kicker teeth on shaft rotating means 29 are in position tobe contacted by the associated cog members on predetermining wheel 3611.

During the countdown from 158 to 000, the first 72 of output shaftrotation occurs when the counter reaches 100. During the transfer from100 to 099, predetermining wheel 37b attached to the rear(hundreds-wheel side) of the tens Wheel is the driving wheel for theoutput shaft. As tens wheel 37 passes from to 9 in a count-' downdirection, cog member 52 contacts kicker tooth 68 to initiate rotationof the output shaft. Blocking tooth 67 meshes with recess 59 in theperiphery of predetermining wheel 37b to complete the 72 of rotation. Atthe same time, blocking tooth 70 on the other side of the tens wheel ismeshing with recess 53 in the periphery of predetermining wheel 37c.Blocking tooth 76 adjacent the units wheel also meshes with recess 44-on predetermining wheel 36b.

As the counter reaches 099 then, output shaft 28 has assumed theposition labelled B on the drawing. During this clockwise rotation ofthe output shaft from position A to position B, hundreds wheel 38 isalso rotated 36 in a counter clockwise direction to remove the numeral 1from the readout position. The plurality of teeth on shaft rotatingmeans 33 merely provide a normal gear transfer with corresponding gearteeth on hundreds wheel 38. A single wide tooth 86 is used to mesh witha pair of recesses 87 and 38 in the periphery of hundreds wheel 38 toassure that the hundreds wheel is positioned correctly with respect tothe remaining wheels. In this particular application, the hundreds wheelis merely an indicator and performs no driving function with respect tothe output shaft.

Position B of output shaft 28 corresponds to the middle range of numberson the counter between 099 and 010. During the time that the counter isin the middle range, output shaft 28 is locked in position by theblocking teeth. Blocking teeth 67, 70, and 76 prevent rotation of outputshaft 28 in a counterclockwise direction while blocking teeth 69 and 75prevent rotation in a clockwise direction. In position B, only onekicker tooth is again in position to be contacted by an associated cogmember as the counter leaves the middle range. Kicker tooth 72 hangsdown adjacent the side of predetermining wheel 37c to be contacted bycog member 59 as the wheel goes from 1 to O in a countdown direction orby cog member 56 as the wheel goes from 9 to 0 in a forward direction.As the counter goes from 010 to 009 in a countdown direction, cog member59 contacts kicker tooth 72 to initiate rotation of output shaft 23.Blocking tooth 69 meshes with recess 54 in the periphery ofpredetermining wheel 370 to complete 72 of rotation of output shaft 28.During this movement of the output shaft from position B to position C,blocking tooth 75 adjace'nt the units wheel meshes with recess 44 as theunits wheel goes from 0 to 9.

If, during the time that the counter was in the middle rangecorresponding to position B on the output shaft, the counter had beenreversed and driven in a forward direction, the output shaft would havebeen returned from position B to position A as the counter rotated from099 to 100. Once again kicker tooth 72 would have been contacted, thistime by cog member 56, and blocking tooth 70 would have meshedwithrecess 53. During this rotation from position B to position A, blockingtooth 67 would have meshed with recess 50, and blocking tooth 76 wouldhave meshed with recess 44. Shaft rotating means 33 would also havemoved the hundreds wheel back to the original position with the numeral1 showing at the readout position.

After the rotation from 010 to 009 is complete, the output shaft assumesthe position C on the diagram. In this position, blocking teeth 69 and75 prevent rotation of output shaft 28 in a counterclockwise direction.Tooth 83 adjacent the units wheel has been constructed as asemi-blocking tooth to prevent clockwise rotation. Tooth 83 has a widthintermediate between that of the blocking teeth and the kicker teeth.This can be more clearly seen in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 7. A recess 47 ofsimilar width has been formed in the periphery of predetermining wheel36b as disclosed in FIGURE 6b. Recess 47 does not extend the full widthof the periphery of the predetermining wheel but it is sufficientlylarge to accommodate semi-blocking tooth 83. The reason that tooth 83was not made a full Width blocking tooth is as follows. During therotation of the counter from 099 to 100, and the output shaft fromposition B to position A, blocking tooth 77 is rotated firmly againstthe periphery of predetermining wheel 36b just prior to the time thatrecess 47 passes beneath it. If recess 47 were of full width, there is apossibility that the inertial effects of the high speed rotation mightcause blocking tooth 77 to partially engage recess 47. By reducing thewidth of recess 47, this possibility of jamming the counter is avoided.In position C then, tooth 8-3 acts as a blocking tooth to preventspurious rotation of output shaft 28 in a clockwise direction.

Position C of output shaft 28 corresponds to the low range of thecounter. Kicker tooth 84 is now in position to be contacted by anassociated cog member and no other kicker tooth is in such a position.If the counter were stopped and the direction of rotation reversed to aforward direction, kicker tooth 84 would be engaged by the leading cogmember on predetermining wheel 36b as it rotated in a clockwisedirection, and blocking tooth 75 would mesh with recess 44 to return theoutput shaft to position B. Once again, blocking tooth 69 would engagerecess 54 in predetermining wheel 370.

It should be noted that positions D and E of output shaft 28 as well asposition C correspond to the low range of the counter. The reason forthis is that a more accurate output can be obtained from the outputshaft if it is rotating through the position at the time an output isdesired. By picking up the output shaft two seconds ahead of the desiredoutput time, a smooth rotation of the output shaft is achieved andbacklash errors minimized. It is more accurate to trigger a firingdevice by moving the sear smoothly through the firing point than to firethe device at the beginning or end of movement of the sear. In thisapplication, an arming device is released as the counter passes through001, and the device is fired as the counter passes through 000; bothevents occurring while the shaft is in motion.

The transfer of output shaft 28 from position C to position D occurs asthe counter passes from 002 to 001. The rotation from position D toposition E occurs as the counter passes from 001 to 000, and the outputshaft is returned to position A as the counter moves from 000 to 199.Output shaft 28 is thus rotated continuously through 216 degrees as thecounter moves from 002 to 199 in a countdown direction. The plurality ofteeth on shaft rotating means 29 engage with corresponding cog memberson predetermining wheel 36b during this period to drive the outputshaft. The remaining wheels and shaft rotating means merely follow alongin order to retain relative positions. The accuracy of the final outputis thus dependent only upon the accuracy with which the transfer fromthe units wheel is made to the output shaft. If at any time during thisperiod, the counter should be stopped and reversed, the output shaftwould reverse with it and would rotate in the opposite direction toretain the correct position with respect to the position of the counterwheels.

It should be understood that the so-called blocking teeth on the outputshaft perform three different functions in this device.

First: The blocking teeth, as blocking teeth, prevent spurious rotationof the output shaft by riding on the blocking surfaces of the counterwheels.

Second: The blocking teeth, as gear teeth, in cooperation with thekicker teeth, swing the output shaft through its intermittent motions bymeshing with the notches in the couner wheel blocking surfaces.

Third: Some blocking teeth in this device, as checking teeth, act ascounter wheel position interlocks by meshing simultaneously into theblocking surface notches of two or more counter wheels to insure thatthe counter wheels are not incorrectly assembled.

A careful consideration of FIGURE 3 will reveal the many virtues of thisinvention. For each position of the counter wheel there is a predictableoutput shaft position. During the time that the output shaft is notmoving, it is locked in position by the blocking teeth. The shaft cannotbe moved from a fixed position until the counter wheels drive the shaftto a new position in which it is again locked. The counter will countthrough zero in either a forward or a countdown direction and the outputshaft will follow it accurately. The counter can be stopped at any pointand reversed without fear of jamming the mechanism. In otherapplications as well as in this particular application, it may bedesirable to utilize the intermediate partial rotations of the outputshaft to perform useful work. In a fluid flow application, for example,the final output may be utilized to close a valve to stop the fluidflow. In such a case, the intermeidate rotations could be used topartially close the valve so that the full flow need not be stoppedsuddenly at the final output.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, only two of the counterwheels are used to drive the output shaft. The hundreds wheel is merelyan indicator and has no driving function. This was done to increase theaccuracy of the counter and to reduce the possibility of jamming thecounter and output shaft gears. The gears on the output shaft are firmlyfixed in their relative positions but the gears on the counter wheelswill have a relationship only as accurate as the accuracy of thetransfer mechanism between the wheels. There is always some problem withbacklash or lost motion caused by inaccuracies in the transfer mechanismbetween the wheels. For each transfer this inaccuracy is multiplied. Inthis application, only one transfer between the driving wheels isneeded, therefore reducing the amount of lost motion between wheels. Inthe case of the counter passing from 100 to 099, for example, threeblocking teeth must simultaneously pass through corresponding recessesin different predetermining wheels. Even a small amount of in accuracyof motion between the wheels would cause one of the blocking teeth tomiss accurate meshing with its corresponding recess.

It should again be observed that the theory of operation describedherein is applicable to a counter having either more or less than thenumber of wheels described in the preferred embodiment. Neither is thereany magic in the 72 of rotation each time the shaft is moved. It wouldbe a matter of engineering in each case to determine the number of teethrequired on the output shaft, the number of corresponding teeth andrecesses on the wheels, and the number of degrees of rotation requiredfor each movement of the output shaft.

An enlarged view of the output shaft utilized in the preferredembodiment is disclosed in FIGURE 7. The exact angular relationshipexisting between the kicker teeth and blocking teeth on each of thewheels, and the relationship existing between the different groups ofgears can be seen by examining FIGURES 8, 9, 10, and 11. The top toothin each of FIGURES 8, 9, 10, and 11 is located at the same angularposition on the shaft.

Refer again to FIGURE 1. The counter has been set to read approximately197 if the readout is taken from a readout position outlined at 15. Theposition of output shaft 28 thus corresponds to position A in FIG- URE3. If the counter is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed fromsupport member 12, the rotation will be in a forward direction and thecounter will soon move from 199 to 000 and the output shaft will rotateto position E as shown in FIGURE 3. During the rotation of the counterfrom 199 to 000, kicker tooth 68 will be contacted by cog member 51, andblocking tooth 66 will mesh in recess 50. Blocking tooth 71 will meshwith recess 53, and blocking tooth 77 will mesh with recess 44. The factthat the numerals on the wheels in FIGURE 1 are placed in a differentrelative position with respect to the gear teeth on the predeterminingwheels as compared to the number positions in FIGURE 3 is due to thefact that the readout in FIGURE 3 is taken from a position directlyadjacent the output shaft while the readout position in FIGURE 1 isoffset from the output shaft.

In a broader sense, the embodiments previously described herein allutilize a common method of obtaining an output from a predeterminingcounter and of automatically resetting the counter. Using this method,it is possible to provide a programmed output from the counter at anydesired reading on the counter and to make this output automaticallyresettable and repeatable. The desired result and the problems to befaced must be kept in mind. The output is normally taken from the lowestorder wheel since it is indexed in terms of the lowest unit of thequantity to be measured. The problem, then, is that the lowest orderwheel will revolve through the desired output position many times beforethe output is desired. To solve this problem, the movement of the higherorder wheels is monitored and utilized to predict the arrival of thelowest order wheel at the desired revolution. An output is then takenfrom the lowest order wheel at a selected position in the revolution;and the movement of each lower order wheel through either limit of therevolution in which the output is desired is utilized to reset theoutput mechanism.

A specific example will clarify the method. Assume that a standard threewheel decadal counter is used which counts in either direction from 000to 999. Assume that an output from the counter is desired each time thecounter passes through position 136.5. The output must be taken when thehundreds wheel is stopped at l, the tens wheel is stopped at 3, and theunits wheel is passing through 6.5. Note again that between 000 and 999,the units Wheel will pass through position 6.5 a total of times; thetens wheel will pass through position 3 a total of 10 times; and thehundreds wheel will pass once through position 1. Also note, however,that during the time that the hundreds wheel is in position 1, the tenswheel will pass through position 3 only once; and during the time thatthe hundreds and tens wheel's read 13, the units wheel will pass throughposition 6.5 only once. This is true whether the counter is beingrotated in a forward or in a reverse direction. This relationship can beused to provide an output at 136.5. A first output device is used todetect the rotation of the hundreds wheel to position 1 in eitherdirection. The first output is used to place a second output device inposition to detect the rotation of the tens wheel to position 3. Thesecond output is used to place a final output device in position todetect the rotation of the units wheel through position 6.5. The finaloutput can be used to perform useful work. The output devices areautomatically reset as follows. During the time that the hundreds andtens wheel read 13, the units wheel can make one revolution withoutchanging the reading to 12 or 14. The final output device is in positionduring this time to detect the movement of the units wheel through 6.5.If the units wheel moves through either of the limits of the revolutionto change the higher wheels to either 12 or 14, an output is no longerdesired at 6.5 but the second output device must be reset so as torespond if the tens wheel returns to position 3. The final output deviceis thus designed to detect the movement of the units wheel througheither of the limits to reset the second output device. With the secondoutput device reset, a return of the tens wheel to position 3 willgenerate an output to again reset the final output device.

During the time that the hundreds wheel is at position 1, the tens wheelcan make one revolution without changing the hundreds wheel to positionor 2. The movement of the tens wheel can thus be used to predict thepoint at which the hundreds wheel will transfer to 0 or 2. The secondoutput device is thus designed to detect the movement of the tens wheelthrough either of its limits to transfer the hundreds wheel to 0 or 2.This movement is used to reset the first output device such that it willrespond to the return of the hundreds wheel to position 1.

In this particular example, the outputs would occur at the followingnumbers if the wheels were rotated from 999 to 000 in a countdowndirection: 200-199; 120-129; 139439; 139122; 190-029. (The underlinednumbers represent the wheel from which the output is being taken.) Ifthe counter were rotated from 000 to 999 in a forward direction, theoutputs would occur as follows: 999-100; 199-190; 139-131; 132149;129290. No further movements are necessary to obtain the final output orto make the counter and output mechanism fully reversible.

From the preceding description it should be apparent that I haveinvented a unique automatically resettable output device for apredetermining counter. Although the form of the invention describedherein constitutes a preferred embodiment, it will be understood thatchanges may be made within the spirit of the invention limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A predetermining counter capable of continuous forward or reversecounting from 000 to 199, comprising: a succession of different ordercounter wheels mounted for individual rotation on a common axis andincluding a units wheel, a tens wheel and a hundreds wheel; means forrotating said units wheel; tens transfer means connecting said unitswheel to said tens wheel; said units wheel and said tens wheel eachhaving the numerals 0-9 evenly indexed around the periphery thereof;said hundreds wheel having the numeral 1 indexed at one or more selectedpoints on the periphery thereof; said units wheel having a firstpredetermining wheel of smaller diameter concentrically attachedthereto; said tens wheel having second and third predetermining wheelsof smaller diameter concentrically attached to either side thereof; saidpredetermining wheels each having a first notch formed in the peripherythereof; a first pair of cog members attached to an outer side of eachof said predetermining wheels flanking said notch and extendingtherefrom parallel to said common axis; a rotatable output shaft mountedadjacent the periphery of said counter wheels and parallel to saidcommon axis; said output shaft having at least one kicker tooth affixedthereto adjacent each of said predetermining wheels lying in a planeparallel to said outer side of the associated predetermining wheel andsaid plane intersecting said cog members; said output shaft having afirst position with said kicker tooth of said third predetermining wheellying in the path of said associated cog members, and said lower orderkicker teeth being mounted on said output shaft out of the path of saidlower order cog members; one of said third predetermining wheel cogmembers contacting said kicker tooth upon rotation of said counterwheels from 199 to 000 or from 100 to 099 to thereby cause partialrotation of said output shaft to place a lower order kicker tooth inline with a lower order cog memher; said second predetermining wheelhaving a second pair of cog members flanking a second notch in theperiphery thereof; one of said second predetermining wheel cog memberscontacting said associated kicker tooth upon the rotation of saidcounter wheels from 099 to 100 or from 010 to 009 to rotate said shaftand place either a higher or a lower order kicker tooth respectively inposition to be contacted; said first predetermining wheel having asecond pair of cog members and a third pair of cog members mountedadjacent said first pair of cog members; said output shaft having aplurality of kicker teeth mounted thereon adjacent said firstpredetermining wheel designed to mesh with said cog members to effectrotation of said output shaft when said counter rotates from 002 to 001,from 001 to 000, or from 000 to 199 in a countdown direction, and from000 to 001, from 001 to 002, or from 009 to 010 in a forward direction;at least one blocking tooth associated with each of said predeterminingwheels; said blocking teeth being mounted on said output shaft andadapted to ride the periphery of said associated predetermining wheel toprevent spurious rotation of said output shaft; said blocking teeth eachmeshing with a notch in the corresponding predetermining wheel to aidsaid corresponding kicker tooth in rotating said output shaft; and aplurality of gear teeth mounted on said output shaft adapted to meshwith corresponding teeth on said hundreds wheel to effect rotationthereof in accordance with the movements of the lower order wheels.

2. A predetermining counter capable of continuous forward or reversecounting, comprising: a succession of different order counter wheelsmounted for individual rotation on a common axis and including a unitswheel, a tens wheel and a hundreds wheel each having appropriatenumerals indexed on the periphery thereof; means for rotating said unitswheel; transfer means connecting said units wheel to said tens wheel;said units wheel having a first predetermining wheel concentricallyattached thereto; said tens wheel having second and third predeterminingwheels concentrically attached to either side thereof; saidpredetermining wheels each having a first notch formed on the peripherythereof; a pair of cog members attached to an outer side of each of saidpredetermining wheels flanking said notch and extending therefromparallel to said common axis; a rotatable output shaft mounted adjacentthe periphery of said counter wheels and parallel to said common axis;said output shaft having at least one kicker tooth affixed theretoadjacent each of said predetermining wheels and rotatable with saidshaft in a plane parallel to said outer side of the associatedpredetermining wheel and said plane intersecting said cog members; saidoutput shaft having a first position corresponding to a firstpreselected range of positions on said counter wheels with said kickertooth of said third predetermining wheel lying in the patch of saidassociated cog members, and said lower order kicker teeth being mountedon said output shaft out of the path of said lower order cog members;one of said third predetermining wheel cog members contacting saidkicker tooth upon rotation of said counter wheels through either a highor a low limit of said first range to thereby cause partial rotation ofsaid output shaft to place a different order kicker tooth in position tobe contacted by a corresponding cog member; said second predeterminingwheel hav ing a second pair of cog members flanking a second notch inthe periphery thereof; one of said second perdetermining wheel cogmembers contacting said associated kicker tooth upon the rotation ofsaid counter wheels through either a high or low limit of a secondpreselected range of positions adjacent said first range on said counterwheels to rotate said shaft and place another kicker tooth in positionto be contacted; said first predetermining wheel having a second pair ofcog members and a third pair of cog members mounted thereon adjacentsaid first pair of cog members; said counter wheels having a third rangeof positions including all positions not encompassed by said first andsecond ranges; said output shaft having a plurality of kicker teethmounted thereon adjacent said first predetermining wheel adapted to meshwith said cog members to effect rotation of said output shaft when saidcounter rotates through selected positions within said third range orrotates through either a high or a low limit of said third range; therotation of said counter through the low limit of said third range intosaid first range causing said output shaft to rotate to said firstposition; at least one blocking tooth associated with each of saidpredetermining wheels; said blocking teeth being mounted on said outputshaft and adapted to ride the periphery of said associated predeterminngwheel to prevent spurious rotation of said output shaft; said blockingteeth each meshing with a notch in the corresponding predeterminingwheel to aid in rotating said output shaft; and a plurality of gearteeth mounted on said output shaft adapted to mesh with correspondingteeth on said hundreds wheel to effect rotation thereof in accordancewith the movements of the lower order wheels.

3. A predetermining counter capable of continuous counting in eitherdirection from a position to a preselected maximum number having 3digits, comprising: a succession of different order counter wheelsmounted for individual rotation on a common axis and including a unitswheel, a tens wheel and a hundreds wheel each having appropriatenumerals indexed on the periphery thereof; means for rotating said unitswheel; means for transferring the rotation of said units wheel to saidhigh order wheels; said counter having a total range of positionsincluding 0 through the preselected number having 3 digits; said totalrange being sub-divided into 3 ranges with the first lowest range havinga low limit of 0 and a high limit equivalent to the highest numberdisplayable by said units wheel, the second range having a low limit oneposition above the high limit of the first range and a high limitequivalent to the largest number displayable by the tens wheel and theunits wheel, the third range having a low limit one position above thehigh limit of the second range and a high limit equivalent to themaximum number displayable by the three counter Wheels; shaft rotatingmeans attached to said output shaft adjacent said units Wheel; drivingmeans on said units wheel engageable with said shaft rotating means tocause partial rotation of said shaft when said counter rotates throughselected positions within said first range or rotates through either thehigh or low limit of said first range; further separate shaft rotatingmeans associated with each of said higher ranges and engageable byseparate driving means mounted on at least one of said higher orderwheels; said further shaft rotating means being mounted on said'outputshaft such that a partial rotation of said output shaft is achieved byengagement with associated driving means each time said counter passesthrough either limit of either of said higher ranges; said individualshaft rotating means being placed in position to be engaged by theassociated driving means by the partial rotation of said shaft duringthe movement of the counter through the adjoining limit of the adjoiningrange; the rotation of said counter through the full range therebycausing one full rotation ofsaid output shaft; and means attached tosaid output shaft to prevent spurious rotation thereof.

4. A predetermining counter capable of continuous counting in eitherdirection from a 0 position to a preselected maximum number having Ndigits, comprising: a succession of N different order counter wheelsmounted for individual rotation on a common axis and including a unitswheel and N minus one higher order wheels each having appropriatenumerals indexed on the periphery thereof; means for rotating said unitswheel; means for transferring the rotation of said units wheel to saidhigher order wheels; said counter having a total range of readoutpositions including 0 through the selected number having N digits; thetotal range being sub-divided into N ranges with the first lowest rangehaving a low limit of 0 and a high limit equivalent to the highestnumber displayable by said units wheel, each higher range including theNth range having a low limit one position above the high limit of thenext lower range and a high limit equivalent to the maximum numberdisplayable by the corresponding number of counter wheels; a rotatableoutput shaft mounted adjacent said counter wheels; shaft rotating meansattached to said output shaft adjacent said units wheel; driving meanson said units wheel engageable with said shaft rotating means to providepartial rotation of said shaft when said counted rotates throughselected positions within said first range or rotates through either thehigh or low limit of said first range; and further shaft rotating meansassociated with each of said higher ranges and engageable by separatedriving means mounted on corresponding higher order wheels; said furthershaft rotating means being mounted on said output shaft such that apartial rotation of said output shaft is achieved by engagement withsaid driving means each time said counter passes through either limit ofany of said ranges; each of said individual shaft rotating means beingrotated into position for engagement by the associated driving means bythe partial rotation of said shaft caused by the movement of saidcounter through the adjacent limit of the adjoining range.

5. A predetermining counter capable of continuous counting in eitherdirection from a 0 position to a preselected maximum number having Ndigits, comprising: a succession of N different order counter wheelsmounted for individual rotation on a common axis and including a unitswheel and N minus one higher order wheels each having appropriatenumerals indexed on the periphery thereof; means for rotating said unitswheel; means for transferring the rotation of said units wheel to saidhigher order Wheels; said counter having a total range of positionsincluding 0 through the selected number having N digits; the total rangebeing sub-divided into N ranges with the first lowest range having a lowlimit of O and a high limit equivalent to the highest number displayableby said units wheel, the Nth range having a low limit one position abovethe high limit of the N minus 1 range and a high limit equivalent to thepreselected number displayable by N counter wheels; N individual outputmeans each corresponding to one of said ranges mounted adjacent saidcounter wheels at a reference position; N individual driving means eachcorresponding to one of said output means mounted on said wheels forrotation through said reference position; each of said output meanshaving a first position in line for engagement with an associateddriving means, and a plurality of alternate positions out of line withsaid driving means; said driving means being positioned on said wheelssuch that at least one driving means passes through said referenceposition each time said counter passes through either of the limits ofsaid ranges; and means for connecting said individual output means in afixed relative relationship such that each output means is in said firstposition when said counter Wheels are in said corresponding range and inan alternate position with said counter wheels in any other range; saiddriving means corresponding to each range engaging said correspondingoutput means upon said counter passing through either of the limits ofsaid range to thereby provide an output and move an adjoining outputmeans into said first position.

6. A predetermining counter capable of continuous counting in eitherdirection from a 0 position to a preselected maximum number having 3digits, comprising: a succession of different order counter wheelsmounted for individual rotation on a common axis and including a unitswheel, a tens wheel and a hundreds wheel each having appropriatenumerals indexed on the periphery thereof; means for rotating said unitswheel; means for transferring the rotation of said units Wheel to saidhigh order wheels; said counter having a total range of positionsincluding 0 through the preselected number having 3 digits; said totalrange being sub-divided into 3 ranges with the first lowest range havinga low limit of 0 and a high limit equivalent to the highest numberdisplayable by said units wheel, the second range having a low limit oneposition above the high limit of the first range and a high limitequivalent to the largest number displayable by the tens wheel and theunits Wheel, the third range having a low limit one position above thehigh limit of the second range and a high limit equivalent to thehighest number displayable by the three counter wheels, first, secondand third output means corresponding to said first, second and thirdranges respectively mounted adjacent said counter and each having afirst position and a plurality of alternate positions; said output meansbeing responsive to the movement of said counter through either of thelimits of said corresponding first, second or third ranges when in saidfirst position and non-responsive to the movement of said counter whenin an alternate position; the response of said first, second and thirdoutput means being in the form of a movement from said first position toan alternate position; said first, second and third output means beingmounted initially in a fixed relative relationship with only the oneoutput means corresponding to the initial counter position being in saidfirst position and said other output means being in an alternatenon-responsive position; and means connecting said first, second andthird output means to hold said output means in said fixed relativerelationship; said fixed relative relationship being such that themovement of one output means from said first position to an alternateposition caused by the movement of said counter from one of the rangesto another of the ranges will result in the movement of a differentoutput means corresponding to the range into which said counter is movedfrom said alternate position to said first position and the movement ofthe remaining output means from one alternate position to another; eachof said output means moving through the first position and all alternatepositions during the rotation of the counter through the full range.

7. A predetermining counter capable of continuous counting in eitherdirection from a zero position to a preselected maximum number having Ndigits, comprising: a set of N coaxially mounted operatively connecteddifferent order number Wheels each having appropriate numerals indexedon the periphery thereof; means for rotating the lowest order counterwheel in either direction to set a predetermined number on said counter;means for rotatingsaid lowest order wheel to drive said counter fromsaid predetermined number to the zero position at which position anoutput is desired; said counter having a total range of digit readingpositions equivalent in number to zero plus the selected number having Ndigits; the total range being sub-divided into N ranges with the lowestrange having a low limit of zero and a high limit equivalent to thehighest number displayable by said lowest order wheel, each of theremaining ranges having a low limit one position above the high limit ofthe next lower range and a high limit equivalent to the largest numberdisplayable by the corresponding counter wheel Y and all lower ordercounter wheels; a rotatable output shaft mounted adjacent said counterwheels at a reference position with respect to the indexed periphery ofsaid wheels; said output shaft having a plurality of rotated positionseach corresponding to one of the ranges on said counter; said counterwheels having N segmental gears mounted thereon such that at least oneof said segmental gears rotates through said reference position eachtime said counter rotates through alimit of one of the ranges; saidoutput shaft having N longitudinally spaced apart segmental gearsmounted at radially spaced apart positions thereon; said output shaft ineach of said rotated positions having .atleast one segmental gearpositioned mental gear corresponding to said second range into positionto be engaged by the corresponding counter wheel segmental gear upon therotation of said counter wheel through either of the limits of saidsecond range; a full rotation of said output shaft being equivalent tothe rotation of said counter through its full range.

8. An automatically resettable mechanism for generating an output fromthe lowest order wheel of a predetermining counter having a set ofco-axially mounted operatively connected different order number Wheelseach having a Zero position thereon, comprising: means for rotating thelowest order wheel in either a forward or a countdown direction to setsaid counter to a predetermined number; means for rotating said lowestorder wheel in a countdown direction to drive said counter from saidpredetermined number setting to a reference setting with said zeropositions aligned; first output means positioned adjacent said wheelsfor generating a first partial output from the movement of said highestorder wheel to the reference setting in a countdown direction; secondoutput means including means positioned by said first output means forgenerating a second partial output from the movement of the secondhighest order wheel to the reference setting for the last time in acountdown direction; a similar sequence of events occurring upon each ofthe higher order wheels reaching the reference position for the lasttime in a countdown direction; final output means including meanspositioned by the next higher output means for generating a final outputduring the final rotation to the reference position of said lowest orderwheel; means for generating an output from the movement of said lowestorder wheel through the reference position for the last time in acountdown direction to place said first output means in position toproduce a first partial output; and means for successively resettingsaid output means during movement of said counter from said referencesetting to said predetermined number setting in a forward direction; theresetting of each output means by the next lower output means occurringduring the movement of each wheel to the zero position for the firsttime in a forward direction.

9. An automatically resettable mechanism for generating a timed outputfrom the lowest order wheel of a predetermining counter having a set ofco-axially mounted operatively connected different order number wheelseach having a Zero position thereon, comprising: a mechanicaldifferential having first and second input shafts and an output shaft; asetting knob connected to the first input shaft; means connecting saidoutput shaft to the lowest order wheel to rotate the lowest order wheelin either a forward or a countdown direction to set the counter to apredetermined number upon rotation of the setting knob; a timing deviceconnected to the second input shaft to rotate the lowest order wheel ina countdown direction at a predetermined speed to drive the counter fromthe predetermined number setting to a reference setting with the zeropositions aligned; first output means positioned adjacent the counter togenerate a first partial output from the movement of the highest orderwheel to the referenced setting in a countdown direction; second outputmeans including means positioned by the first output means forgenerating a second partial output from the movement of the secondhighest order Wheel to the reference setting for the last time in acountdown direction; a similar sequence of events occurring upon each ofthe higher order wheels reaching the reference position for the lasttime in a countdown direction; final output means including meanspositioned by the next higher order output means for generating a finaloutput during the final rotation to the reference position of the lowestorder wheel; means to generate an output from the movement of the lowestorder wheel through the reference position for the last time in acountdown direction to place the first output means in position toproduce a first partial output; and

means for successively resetting said output means during movement ofthe counter from the reference setting to the predetermined numbersetting in a forward direction; the resetting of each output means bythe next lower order output means occurring during the movement of eachwheel to the zero position for the first time in a forward direction.

10. In combination with a reversible multiple wheel counter having a setof operatively connected diiferent order number wheels, means forgenerating an output at a preselected number position, comprising afirst output device to detect the movement of the highest order wheel tothe first digit of the preselected number from either direction; and tothereupon generate a first output indicative of the arrival of thecounter at the broad range of numbers having the same first digit as thepreselected number; a second output device positioned by said firstoutput to detect the movement of the second highest order wheel to thesecond digit of the preselected number to thereupon generate a secondoutput indicative of the arrival of the counter at the range of num- 18hers having the same first and second digits as the preselected number;said second output positioning further output devices associated withlower order Wheels in similar sequential fashion until a final output isgenerated upon the movement of all of the wheels to the preselectednumber position; means associated with each of the second and loweroutput means to detect the particular movement of the associated counterwheel which indicates that the next higher wheel is moving from thepreselected number position to a higher or lower number position; andmeans for utilizing the particular move ment to position the next higheroutput means to respond to subsequent movement of the next higher orderwheel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,089,616 5/1963Wilson 235l32 X LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

1. A PREDETERMINED COUNTER CAPABLE OF CONTINUOUS FORWARD OR REVERSECOUNTING FROM 000 TO 199, COMPRISING: A SUCCESSION OF DIFFERENT ORDERCOUNTER WHEELS MOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL ROTATION ON A COMMON AXIS ANDINCLUDING A UNITS WHEEL, A TENS WHEEL AND A HUNDREDS WHEEL; MEANS FORROTATING SAID UNITS WHEEL; TENS TRANSFER MEANS CONNECTED SAID UNITSWHEEL TO SAID TENS WHEEL; SAID UNITS WHEEL AND SAID TENS WHEEL EACHHAVING THE NUMERALS 0-9 EVENLY INDEXED AROUND THE PERIPHERY THEREOF;SAID HUNDREDS WHEEL HAVING THE NUMERAL 1 INDEXED AT ONE OR MORE SELECTEDPOINTS ON THE PERIPHERY THEREOF; SAID UNITS WHEEL HAVING A FIRSTPREDETERMINED WHEEL OF SMALLER DIAMETER CONCENTRICALLY ATTACHED THERETO;SAID TENS WHEEL HAVING SECOND AND THIRD PREDETERMINING WHEELS OF SMALLERDIAMETER CONCENTRICALLY ATTACHED TO EITHER SIDE THEREOF; SAIDPREDETERMINING WHEELS EACH HAVING A FIRST NOTCH FORMED IN THE PERIPHERYTHEREOF; A FIRST PAIR OF COG MEMBERS ATTACHED TO AN OUTER SIDE OF EACHOF SAID PREDETERMINING WHEELS FLANKING SAID NOTCH AND EXTENDINGTHEREFROM PARALLEL TO SAID COMMON AXIS; A ROTATABLE OUTPUT SHAFT MOUNTEDADJCENT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID COUNTER WHEELS AND PARALLEL TO SAID COMMONAXIS; SAID OUTPUT SHAFT HAVING AT LEAST ONE KICKER TOOTH AFFIXED THERETOADJACENT EACH OF SAID PREDETERMINING WHEELS LYING IN A PLANE PARALLEL TOSAID OUTER SIDE OF THE ASSOCIATED PREDETERMINING WHEEL AND SAID PLANEINTERSECTING SAID COG MEMBERS; SAID OUTPUT SHAFT HAVING A FIRST POSITIONWITH SAID KICKER TOOTH OF SAID THIRD PREDETERMINING WHEEL LYING IN THEPATH OF SAID ASSOCIATED COG MEMBERS, AND SAID LOWER ORDER KICKER TEETHBEING MOUNTED ON SAID OUTPUT SHAFT OUT OF THE PATH OF SAID LOWER ORDERCOG MEMBERS; ONE OF SAID THIRD PREDETERMINING WHEEL COG MEMBERSCONTACTING SAID KICKER TOOTH UPON ROTATION OF SAID COUNTER WHEELS FROM199 TO 000 OR FROM 100 TO 099 TO THEREBY CAUSE PARTIAL ROTATION OF SAIDOUTPUT SHAFT TO PLACE A LOWER ORDER KICKER TOOTH IN LINE WITH A LOWERORDER COG MEMBER; SAID SECOND PREDETERMINING WHEEL HAVING A SECOND